Signaling device.



W. W. DEAN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8. 1914.

Patented. Mayl l, 1918.

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- W. W. DEAN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1914.

Patented May 14,1918.

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W. W. DEAN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1914.

Patented Mayl l, 1918.

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SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIB. 1914.

Patented May14,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 IPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WILLIAM W. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING ASSIGNOR, BY MESN'E ASSIGNMENTS, TO

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COB- SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed May 18, 1914. Serial No. 839,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in signaling devices. It is particularly adapted for use for automobile, motorcycle and other vehicle signaling, and comprises in a self-contained unitary device, a sounding and light signal.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a reflecting device for a head-light, which reflecting device shall also comprise a resonator for an electrically operated signal horn. Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a combined horn and lamp embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same with the horn casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 3;

F ig, 5 is a front elevation of the combined horn and lamp;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the controlling switch therefor;

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the light in circuit;

Fig. 8 is a detail, sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the device; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement.

The horn casing of the embodiment illustrated is provided with a trumpet or resonator 1 which takes the form of substantially a parabola and is secured at its inner end to the front portion 2 of the casing containin the working parts of the sound signa Mounted within the resonator 1 is a secondary casing3 which is supported in posi tion by suitable screws 4 passing through the secondary casing and the resonator, and having interposed between the casing and the resonator suitable spacing collars. The space between the secondary casing and the resonator proper forms a suitable sound chamber through which the vibrations of the diaphragm of the sound signal may pass. Mounted within this secondary casing 3 is a reflector 6 for the lamp 7. The reflector bears against an annular flange 8 secured within the secondary casing 3, and bearing against the edge of the reflector is a glass 9, which is held in position by a split ring 10 interposed between the glass and an inturned annular flange 11 on the secondary casing. A suitable dust-proof washer 12 is interposed between the glass and the reflector to prevent dust from working in and tarnishing the surface of the reflector.

The lamp 7 is mounted in a suitable socket secured at the rear small end of the secondary casing 3. This socket is provided with an insulating base 13 which carries a spring 14 forming the contact for engagement with the center contact of the lamp, the side contacts of the lamp taking the form of pins 15 adapted to engage in the bayonet slots 16 in the side of the casing of the socket. The casing of the socket is grounded and forms one terminal for the lamp while the center terminal 14 of the socket is connected with a conductor 17, the circuit connection of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The front portion 2 of the casing is preferably stamped from sheet metal and is provided with a forwardly projecting flange 18 around a central opening, onto which flange the inner end of the resonator is secured by spinning or in any desired manner. This front section of the casing is provided with a rearwardly extending peripheral flange 19 within which is adapted to telescope the edge of the rear section 20 of the casing. The front section 2 is also provided with a circular seat 21 on which the working parts of the signal are adapted to be secured.

The sound is produced by a vibrating diaphragm 22 which is secured on the seat :21, a suitable ring or gasket 23, preferably formed of cork or cork composition, being interposed between the seat and the diaphragm. The sound producing diaphragm is preferably formed of a thin sheet of suitable tempered metal and of sufiicient size to emit a clearance between its periphery and the flange 19 for edge of the casing 20.

The working parts of the horn are all mounted upon a suitable clamping ring 24 which is preferably formed of brass or some other suitable non-magnetic material. This ring is of substantially the same outside diameter as the diaphragm and is secured in position by suitable screws 25 which are inserted through apertures in the front section of the casing and screw into the ring. On this ring I mount an electromagnet and its associate parts for causing the vibration of the diaphragm. The core 26 of the magnet consists of a plurality of laminations stamped of suitable sheet metal in U-shape. These laminations are clamped together upon a shelf 27 formed on the ring 24 by suitable screws 28 which pass through the laminations and into the clamping ring. The ends of the core, or pole pieces of the magnet, are chamfered or beveled off as at 29 to form a tapering end on the pole pieces. On each leg of the magnet core is provided a coil or winding 30 WhlCll is wound in the form of a suitable spool and slipped over the leg. Suitable coverings are provided for the windings and protect them from injury. Two of the terminals of the windjngsare connected by twisting the free ends of the windings together as at 31.

A tapper 32 is adapted to strike the diaphragm producing vibration thereof and is mounted upon the end of a soft iron plate 33 which, in turn, is riveted to the free end of a flat spring 34; the opposite end of this spring is clamped between a pair of clamping plates 35 and 36.

Immediately above the tapper 32 I mount on the plate 33 the armature 37 of the magnet. This armature is formed with a plurality of laminated plates and has its end chamfered, as at 38, to cotiperate with the chamfered ends of the pole pieces of the magnet.

The circuit of the magnet is interrupted by a vibrator which comprises a fiat spring 39 clamped between a pair of bushings se cured upon the clamping ring 24 by means of a screw 40, which screw is suitably insulated from the ring so that the ring will not be in electrical contact with the spring. The outer end of this spring carries a contact 41 adapted to make vibrating engagethe reception of the ment with a stationary contact 42 which comprises a platinum tip secured on the end of a screw 43. This screw is mounted upon the end of an arm 44 extending from a binding post plate 45, which binding post plate is mounted above the plates 35 and 36,

being suitably insulated therefrom by strips of insulating material 48 which is interposed between the binding post plate and the clamping plates. The same screws 50 which secure the clamping plates in position also secure the binding post plate in position. These screws are suitably insulated from the plates by insulating bushings through which they pass, and the contact screw 43 is held in its adjusted position by means of a looking plate 46.

The casing for the working parts of the signal is also provided with a switch mechanism for controlling the circuit through the light signal, the circuit through the horn signal, and also the circuit through the ignition for the motor when the device is used on a motorcycle or other device employing an explosive engine as a means of propulsion. This switch comprises a plurality of stationary contacts 51, 52 and 53. These contacts are arc-shaped, and are so mounted that together they form a complete circle. They are mounted on a cylindrical base 54 formed of insulating material and provided with a pair of laterally extending lugs 55 which aresecured to a pair of legs 56 mounted on the clamping ring. The legs and insulating base form a bridge which extends over the top of the magnet and working parts heretofore described.

The movable member of the switch comprises a pair of spring arms 57 and 58, the arm 58 being bifurcated. The arms thus described are all formed from a single piece of material which is provided with a central opening to receive a rotatable stem 59 mounted in the center of the insulating plate or base 54. This rotatable stem, on its underside, is provided with a friction spring 60 which is interposed between the bottom of the base 54 and a washer 61 on the end of the stem. The washer serves to hold the stem in position and the friction spring serves to keep the stem against too free rotation. The upper end of this stem is provided with a clamping plate 62 between which and the clamping plate 63 is secured the piece of material forming the arms 57 and 58, and above this clamping plate is mounted a top plate 64 provided with a series of openings 65 adapted to receive the prongs 66 on the end of a setting key 67.

For the purpose of clearness I have illustrated in Fig. 10 a diagrammatic view of the .circuit connections of the above described device. Mounted within the casing, and on the clamping ring 24, is a bridge 68 held on the clamping ring by screws 69 and formed of insulating material. Mounted on this bridge are a plurality of binding terminals 70, 71, 72 and 7 3. The terminal 70 is connected by a conductor 74 with a lug on the contact plate 52. This lug is also connected by the conductor 75 with one terminal of the. winding of the electroma net. The opposite terminal of the winding of the electromagnet is connected by the conductor 76 with the spring 39 of the vibrator, and the stationary screw of the vibrator is connected through its carrying plate 45 and, by means of-the conductor 77, with the terminal plate 73. The terminal plate 71 is connected by the conductor 78 with the contact plate 53. This plate 71 is also connected by the conductor 17 with one terminal of the lamp socket. This conductor 17 preferably takes the form of a thin, fiat ribbon which, as seen in Fig. 3, is led up from the lamp socket beneath the diaphragm, where it is clamped on the plate and around the diaphragm to the terminal plate 71.

The conductor being formed of a thin fiat,

ribbon of copper occupies a very small space beneath the diaphragm. In fact, it will readily compress into the cork ring 23 so that these parts will not be upset, and, being wrapped'with suitable insulating material, it will not cause a short circuit of the electrical parts of the lamp.

The terminal plate 72 is connected by the conductor 79 with the contact 51. The terminal plate is connected by the conductor 80 with one terminal of the ignition system of the explosive engine, the opposite terminal thereof being suitably grounded. The terminal plate 72 is connected by a conductor 81 with one terminal of the battery or other source of power, the opposite terminal of the power source being suitably grounded; and the terminal plate 73 is connected by a conductor 82 through a suitable switch with the ground.

In operation, we will assume first that the motorcycle or other vehicle is operating in the daytime, in which event it will not be desired that the light signal be used. The arms 57 and 58 are swung around by means of the key until both bifurcations of the arm 58 will rest upon the contact 52, in which event circuit will pass from the battery by way of the conductor 81 to terminal plate 72, thence by the way of the conductor 79 to contact plate 51, across the arms 57 and 58 to contact 52 thence by way of the conductor 75 through the magnet 30, conductor 76, vibrator including the spring 39, conductor 77 to terminal plate 73 and thence by way of conductor 82 through the horn controlling switch to ground. At the same time a branch circuit is established from the contact plate 52 by way of the conductor 7 4 to terminal plate 70 and thence by way of conductor through the ignition system of the explosive engine to ground. It will thus be seen that the ignition system of the engine is provided for, and then by operating the controlling switch in the horn circuit the horn signal may be readily sounded.

In event it is desired to operate at night, then the arms 57 and 58 are swung around, the arm 57 still bearin on the ring 51 and .the bifurcated arms of the arm 58 resting respectively on the contacts 53 and 52. The horn circuit and ignition circuit will run as before described, and, at the same time an additional circuit will be established from contact plate 53 by way of conductor 78 to terminal plate 71, and thence by way of contact 17 to the lamp 7, from thence passing to ground. If the motorcycle is left at rest durlng the day the contact arms 57 and 58 may be swung around until both arms rest in contact ring 51 when there will be no circuit established through the ignition system and neither will the horn circuit be established, thereby preventing unauthorized persons from operating the motorcycle, and preventing malicious or mischievous persons from sounding the signal. At night, if the motorcycle is intended to be left standing, the switch arms may be swung around untilthe arm 57 is on the contact 51 and both bifurcated arms of the arm 58 rest on the contact 53, in which event the lamp may be left burning, and, at the same time, the ignition system and the horn cut out of circuit.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention in the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompan ing claims.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a horn resonator, of a casing mounted within said resonator of smaller diameter than the resonator and leaving a sound chamber between the walls of the resonator and the casing, a lamp socket secured to the restricted end of said casing, a reflector for said lamp mounted within said casing, and an electromagnetically operated sound producing member at one end of said resonator.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with an inclosing casing, of a diaphragm mounted within said casing, an electromagnet within said casing for causing said diaphragm to vibrate, a flaring resonator substantially parabolic in shape secured to said casing at its restricted end, a substantially parabolic secondary casing within said resonator smaller in diameter than the resonator to leave a sound chamber between said secondary casing and resonator, a reflector mounted within said secondary casing, and an electric lamp mounted in the center of said reflector.

3. The combination with a casing, of an electromagnetically operated sound producing member within said casing, a flaring resonator connected to said casing at its restricted end, a secondary casing within said resonator spaced apart from said resonator to leave a sound chamber, an electric lamp in said secondary casing, and a switch in said casing for controlling the circuit of said lamp and of the electromagnet of said sound producing member.

4. The combination with a casing, ofan electromagnetically operated sound producing member within said casing, a flaring resonator connected to said casing at its restricted end, a secondary casing within said resonator spaced apart from said resonator to leave a sound chamber Within the same, an electric lamp within said secondary casing and a switch in said casing movable to one position for completing the circuit through the electromagnet of the sound producing member to another position for completing the circuit through the lamp and to a third position for completing the circuit through the lamp and simultaneously through the electromagnet of the born.

5. The combination with a flaring resonator, of a diaphragm extending across the restricted end of said resonator, an electromagnet for operating said diaphragm, a secondary casing of substantially the same shape as the resonator mounted within the resonator and smaller than the resonator to leave a sound chamber between the side walls of the casing and resonator and a space between the end of the secondary casing and the diaphragm, a lamp mounted within said secondary casing, and means in said casing for projecting the light of said lamp.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a flaring resonator, of a secondary casing secured within and supported by said resonator, an annular flange on the'interior of said secondary casing near its outer end, a convex reflector mounted within said secondary casing having an annular flange engaging the flange on said secondary casing a lens bearing on its outer periphery against said flange, and a ring interposed between the lens and an inturned flange on the outer edge of the secondary casing for holding said lens and reflector in position.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing, of a flaring resonator secured to said casing, a secondary casing mounted within said flaring resonator and of smaller diameter to leave a sound chamber between the walls of said secondary casing and the resonator, a lamp mounted in said secondary casing, an electromagnetically operated sound producing member mounted within said casing, and a switch for r controlling the circuit of the magnet of said sound producing member and of said lamp mounted wholly within and inclosed by said casing and operable onl by a specially formed instrument insertibl said casing.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing, of an electromagnetically operated sound-producing diaphragm in said casing, a resonator secured to said casing, a secondary casing in said resonator of smaller diameter than the resonator to leave a sound chamber between the resonator and the secondary casing, an electric lamp mounted in said secondary casing, means for projecting the light of said lamp, and a conductor for said lamp comprising a thin flat ribbon of conducting material surrounded by insulation connecting the socketof said electric lamp and passing beneath and around said diaphragm.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing, of a diaphragm mounted within said casing, a resonator secured to said casing, a secondary casing mounted within said resonator and of smaller diameter than said resonator to leave a sound chamber between the secondary casing and the resonator, an electric lamp mounted within said secondary casing, a clamping ring mounted within said casing securing said diaphragm in position and providing a support for the operating parts of an electric horn, an insulator support bridging said parts mounted on said ring, and a switch controlling the circuit through the electromagnet of the horn and through the lamp mounted on said insulating bridging support.

10. The combination with an annular casing having a central opening therein, of a diaphragm mounted within said casing and extending across said opening, electromagnetic means within said casing for operating saiddiaphragm, a flaring resonator having its restricted end secured to said casing and surrounding said opening, a secondary casing smaller than and within said resonator and of substantially the same shape as the resonator, an electric lamp mounted in said secondary casing and means for projecting the light of said lamp.

11. The combination with a casing, of electromagnetically operated horn parts mounted within said casing, a resonator, a lamp within said resonator, and circuit-controlling means for said horn parts and lamp mounted within said casing.

12. The combination with a casing, of electromagnetically operated horn parts mounted within said casing, a resonator, a lamp mounted within said resonator, and a switch in said casing which in one position closes the circuit through the lamp, in a second position closes the circuit through e through the electromagnet of the horn parts, and in a third position closes the circuit through the lamp and through the electromagnet of the horn parts.

13. The 'combination with a casing, of electromagnetically operated horn parts mounted within said casing, a resonator mounted on said casing, a lamp within said resonator, and a switch mounted within said casing and operable only by a specially designed operating member inserted through said casing for controlling the circuit through sald electromagnet of said horn parts and through said lamp.

14. The combination with a casing, of electromagnetically operated horn parts mounted within said casing, a resonator, a lamp mounted within said resonator, a switch mounted within said casing, circuit connections between said switch, the electromagnet of the electromagnetically operated horn parts, the lamp and the ignition system of a motorropelled vehicle, said switch being operab e to close the circuit through the lamp alone; through the electromagnet of the horn and igmtion circuit alone, and through the electromagnet of the horn through the lamp and the ignition c1rcu1t.

15. The combination with a casin of a flaring resonator mounted within said casing, a lamp mounted in said resonator, a diaphragm within said casing, an electro-' ma et mounted in said casing substantial y parallel with the diaphragm, an armature for said electromagnet mounted within said casing and substantially parallel with the diaphragm, and a switch for controlling the circuit through said electromagnet and the lamp sup orted between the back of the casing and t e magnet.

16. The combination with a casing, of a flaring resonator mounted on said casin a lamp mounted within said resonator, a 5mphragm mounted within said casing, a

clamping ring for said diaphragm, an electromagnet and its armature mounted on said ring and substantially parallel with respect to the diaphragm, an insulating support bridging said magnet and armature and mounted on said ring, and a switch for controllin the circuit through said magnet and throug said electric lamp mounted on said support and between the back of the casing and the ma et.

diaphragm in said casing, an electromagnet mounted in said casing substantially parallel with said diaphragm, a switch mounted in said casing between said electromagnet and the back of the casing, and circuit connections extending from said electromagnet to said switch and circuit connections extendinfg from said switch to the ignition system o a self-propelled vehicle, said switch being operable from the exterior of the casing only by a specially constructed instrument, and controlling both the circuit through the ignition system and the circuit through the born.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two wit- IIBSSES.

55 17. The combination with a casing, of a a 

